updated 12:35 pm EDT, Thu September 24, 2009

Time Warner opts for DOCSIS 3.0

Time Warner today became one of the last major US cable providers to offer some form of DOCSIS 3.0-based Internet service. The initial deployment gives customers 50Mbps downloads and 5Mbps uploads for the same $100 monthly rate as similar offerings from Comcast and others. Early service is so far only available in parts of New York City, including Manhattan below 79th Street, parts of Queens, and Staten Island.

The company didn't provide a timetable for when it would roll out DOCSIS 3.0 to other cities but doesn't make mention of bandwidth caps.

Time Warner's decision to start unmetered DOCSIS 3.0 service in New York is already believed prompted by the growing presence in the city of Verizon's FiOS service, which hasn't needed caps to date. The company has been conducting trials of capped Internet access but primarily in areas using old DOCSIS 1.0 service, where bandwidth is more of an issue, and in those areas where little competition exists.

Time Warner is rumored to have threatened to withhold DOCSIS 3.0 in the near-term after backlash over the capped service, although since then it's now suspected that some larger cities in New York state will get the faster service as well. The provider had faced criticism in trial areas for doubling the practical cost of unlimited Internet service and for setting caps that challengers believe are meant to discourage customers from using Internet-based, carrier-independent services like Hulu or iTunes instead of more lucrative cable TV subscriptions.

Just Ordered

Thanks for this information, we just ordered the new service from TWC. They are charging $99/month plus a $40 install fee because they need to install a new cable modem (I attempted to let me do it myself, but they did not budge on that). It will be installed next Weds. I'll report back afterwards.

Not so lucky here...

I live in a city where competition is none existent. I'm getting Roadrunner 7Mbps (solid) for $46 a month. Both AT&T and Verizon are in my area, but have no capacity. Naturally, both offer the same speed for less, plus their free wi-fi service...

Same here

I live in Brooklyn NY, and the building I live in can only get Time Warner Cable, no other cable service, period. As for internet, my only options are TW RoadRunner, or Verizon's plain vanilla DSL, which does not appeal to me. They don't offer FIOS at all here yet to my continuing aggravation. (get on with it already Verizon!!)
So I'm effectively stuck using TW for internet service whether I like it or not. I feel that companies monopolizing areas of a city should be illegal, seriously. How does that allow any competition or choice for consumers? And it not like i live in the boonies somewhere. I can only imagine how bad it is in some remote areas of the country.

Finally Got it

So even though TWC said it was coming out on September, it took until mid-February to get it on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.
The difference in speed between the old system and the new is like night and day. Originally we was getting 25Mx768k, now we are getting 50x5. Plus it's a great product for businesses that have buildings that are lit by Time Warner. Too bad no static IP's for home users though.